FULTON, Mo. – This Saturday, January 21st, at 11 a.m. the 2017 William Woods University Hall of Fame Class which includes Rachel Baker (Women's Basketball), Nan Downey (Softball), Michelle Krassinger (Softball) and Barry Doty (Men's and Women's Golf), will be formally be inducted.

This year's inductees, will join an already prestigious Hall of Fame Class, which includes Helen Stephens, former athletic director Roger Ternes, Lana Unnewehr-Brooks (Women's Basketball), the 2002 men's volleyball team, Erin Jewell (Women's Soccer), Ashley Windmiller (Softball), Patty Wilderman (Women's Basketball), , Ashley Morgan (Women's Soccer), Saysha Sappenfield-Nevins (Softball), Tracy Gastineau(softball), Larry York (former Athletic Director), Colleen Dailey (Women's Soccer/Softball) and Dana and Sue Anderson (Contributor's).

The incoming candidates were selected from a pool of nominees submitted by the Hall of Fame Nomination Committee, including suggestions from members of the public and current WWU Hall of Fame Inductees, for their outstanding accomplishments, exemplary service or recognition and distinction to William Woods.

For the next four days, we will be posting an article about each inductee leading up to Saturday's ceremony and first up is former standout women's basketball player Rachel Baker.
 
Baker was a three-year standout player for the William Woods University women's basketball team (2008-11), where she continues to stand near the top of the record books.
 
"When I received the call from Coach Chapla, I thought he was calling to talk about our upcoming alumni game," Rachel Baker said. "When he said I was being inducted into the hall of fame I was completely astonished and couldn't be more thrilled.  Being inducted into the hall of fame is an absolute dream come true!  Accomplishing this dream could not have been done if it weren't for the support of my family and friends, especially the support and hard work from my teammates and coaches!"

Baker, a three time First Team All-American Midwest Conference selection ranks in the top five in many statistical categories. Baker ranks second all-time in steals and blocks, third all-time in rebounding and free throw percentages, fourth all-time in scoring and fifth all-time in field goals made.
 
For her career, Baker scored 1,532 points while making 585 field goals. She shot 46 percent from the floor. She recorded 243 steals and blocked 221 shots in her career.
 
For single season records for WWU, Baker is first in steals and block shots, second in rebounds, third in steals, and fifth in block shots and field goals made.
 
Besides being a three time First Team All-AMC selection, Baker earned Third Team NAIA All-American honors in (2008-09 and 2009-10) and Second Team NAIA All-American Honors in 2010-11 seasons. Her awards were not done as she was an NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 2009-10 and 2010-11. She was the AMC Player of the Year twice (2008-09 and 2010-11) and was the AMC Newcomer of the Year in 2008-09.
 
Baker is a 2011 graduate of William Woods University with a degree in American Sign Language Interpreting. She resides in Columbia, Missouri and is currently working for Boone Hospital and is currently attending nursing school and hopes to graduate in December 2017.